HR0441 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0441 LRB103 34635 LAW 64476 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Joyce Ann Chapman of Chicago, who passed away on September 27, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman, born in Tokyo, Japan on February 19, 1956, was a dedicated organizer and civic leader of the City of Chicago; her professional experience of working with wards of the State and juvenile parolees of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) enhanced her abilities to assist the underserved populations in her community and around the greater Chicagoland area; with over 20 years of community engagement and social service experience, she worked tirelessly to ensure that all children and families received quality education, productive public safety, and adequate housing; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman served as facilitator of CAPS Beat 512 for the Chicago Police Department's 5th District from 1999 to 2009; she subsequently became president of the District Advisory Council for the 5th District; she relentlessly worked with residents and was instrumental in helping deter crime in various Chicagoland communities; as of 2016, she was appointed to serve on the Chicago Police Community Policing Advisory Panel (CPAP); and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman lived in the historic Pullman community of Chicago for over 50 years, and her profound connection to her community and desire to revitalize it led her to establish the Pullman Community Development Corporation in May 2002, where she served as president; she also served as vice president on the Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) Advisory Board for six years and as president of the Gately Park Advisory Council (GPAC) for the past 10 years; under her leadership, GPAC developed and implemented several community events, including grill-offs, holiday food and Secret Santa giveaways, and annual community field trips to Brookfield Zoo; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman passionately represented the Far South Side of Chicago, serving as a member of the Far South Community Action Council (FSCAC) of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) since its inception in 2011, where she held the position of chairwoman until June 14, 2022; she further served the area as the organizer and developer of a Quality-of-Life Plan through Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Chicago in January 2019, and she began serving as president of the Far South Chicago Coalition in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman additionally founded Woman Empowered Civic Engagement (WECE), an organization dedicated to promoting and advocating for women's participation in city, county, state, and federal legislation, in May 2016, and she served as the vice president for the National Community Based Organization Network (NCBON), which focuses on involving, engaging, and empowering community organizations; and

WHEREAS, More recently, Joyce Chapman was appointed to the Chicago Board of Education by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot due to her commitment and dedication to improving life outcomes and opportunities for Chicago's youth and communities; she began serving on June 1, 2022; during her brief tenure, she ensured that the voices of students and their families were heard and incorporated into policymaking; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman was a visionary leader, a lifelong learner, and an unwavering advocate for children and families and will be remembered for her courage, candor, and passion; she was a pillar of her community, and her impact on the city she loved so dearly will continue reverberating for generations; and

WHEREAS, Joyce Chapman is survived by her daughters, Ashanti, Umi, and Amina, and a host of grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Joyce Ann Chapman and extend our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Joyce Chapman as an expression of our deepest sympathy.